Chipper nearing return: When Chipper Jones left Turner Field on Wednesday night, there was still a possibility his right shoulder injury was going to force him to the disabled list. But when he was able to throw with some strength on Thursday, he became encouraged that he might be returning to the starting lineup this weekend.

"I was encouraged," Jones said. "Yesterday, I could barely throw a ball at all. Today, there was a big difference."

Jones, who missed his eighth straight start on Thursday, strained his rotator cuff while diving for a ball on Aug. 2. Since switching to a different type of anti-inflammatory medication on Wednesday, he's seen rapid progress.